The Newark Public Library will open NEON Centers at its Van Buren
and North End branch libraries on Thursday, September 23, at 10am. The two
centers are in addition to the one opened earlier this year at the main
library. The project, funded in part by MCI WorldCom’s Hometown Help
Program, will eventually create two more NEON (NEwark ONline) Centers at
other branch libraries, so that there are similar sites in each of the
city’s five wards.

The NEON Centers continue fulfilling the library’s unique
responsibility to ensure free, open and equal access to electronic
information. The centers not only will provide the computers, but also the
instruction aimed at students in grades six through twelve.

"These centers will enable the library to reach out to all corners
of our city to provide young people with the technology skills they need to
carry them into the next century," said Dr. Alex Boyd, library director.

In partnership with MCI WorldCom, the library now can provide the
equipment and instructors to introduce Newark’s youth to computers and the
Internet. More advanced training will also be available in English and
other targeted languages.

The North End branch is located at 722 Summer Avenue. The Van Buren
branch library is at 140 Van Buren Street. For more information about the
project, patrons may visit either location, or call North End at 733-7766
or 733-7683, or Van Buren at 733-7750 or 733-3897.